Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE14235’

ABSTRACT

A new  osteospermum  plant particularly distinguished by light violet ray florets with a lighter violet ring and darker at the base, and a semi-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEOE14235’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofosteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis Norl, andhereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEOE14235’. ‘KLEOE14235’originated from a cross-pollination conducted in the summer of 2009 inStuttgart, Germany between the proprietary female osteospermum variety‘0E-2006-0062’ (unpatented), and the proprietary male osteospermumvariety ‘OE-2001-U 088’ (unpatented).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown in a greenhousefor evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEOE14235’ wasselected from the group of plants in April 2011 in Stuttgart, Germany.In May 2011 in Stuttgart, Germany, ‘KLEOE14235’ was first vegetativelypropagated by terminal cuttings. ‘KLEOE14235’ was found to reproducetrue to type in successive generations of asexual propagation viaterminal cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Light violet ray florets with a lighter violet ring and        darker at the base; and    -   2. A semi-upright growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotograph which shows the plant's overall plant habit including form,foliage, and flowers. The photograph is of a three-month-old plant grownin a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in June 2012. The colors shown areas true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEOE14235’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on 5-month-old plants grown in agreenhouse using a growth regulation of tilt 0.5% and 0.8% several timesin Stuttgart, Germany in March 2015. Color references are to The R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.),5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.        -   Botanical.—Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.        -   Common.—African Daisy.        -   Designation.—‘KLEOE14235’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary osteospermum variety            ‘0E-2006-0062’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—The proprietary osteospermum variety ‘0E-2001-U            088’ (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Form and habit.—Herbaceous perennial but usually cultivated            as an annual; not frost resistant.        -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.        -   Height (from top of soil, including inflorescence).—About            30.0 cm.        -   Width (including inflorescences).—About 25.0 cm.        -   Propagation.—Terminal cuttings.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—14 weeks (in the            spring and winter).        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—3 weeks.        -   Root description.—Freely rooting, light tan in color.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Base.—Narrowly acute.        -   Margin.—Shallow.        -   Immature color.—Upper surface: RHS 143A. Lower surface: RHS            143B.        -   Mature color.—Upper surface: RHS 141A. Lower surface: RHS            139B.        -   Length.—Up to 7.0 cm.        -   Width.—Up to 3.0 cm.        -   Texture and appearance.—Upper surface: Shiny leathery. Lower            surface: Pubescent; covering of fine hairs.        -   Petioles.—Absent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 143C.-   Stems:    -   -   Total number of branches per plant (calculated at the base            of the plant).—5.        -   Length.—Up to 20.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.6 cm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 143C.        -   Texture.—Shiny, smooth.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Round-ovoid.        -   Length.—About 1.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 1.0 cm.        -   Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold).—RHS            143A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Composite, single.        -   Blooming habit.—Spring to autumn.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—30 to 40.        -   Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.—About 2            weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent to faint.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6.0 cm.        -   Inflorescence depth.—1.0 cm to 1.5 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—About 1.7 cm.-   Disc floret:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—About 110.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Tube color.—Closed: RHS 139D. Mature: RHS 93B.        -   Length.—About 0.5 cm.        -   Diameter (at apex).—About 0.1 cm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Apex color.—RHS 93B.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Base color.—RHS 155C.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Ray floret:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—About 22.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Apical and middle part RHS 84B, basal            RHS 84C, darker ring at base RHS N80B, and end of flowering            RHS N78B. Lower surface: RHS N82A.        -   Length.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Width.—1.8 cm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth,            shiny.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Up to 8.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 0.2 cm.        -   Texture.—Pubescent; covering of fine hairs.        -   Color.—RHS 143C.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Texture.—Pubescent; covering of fine hairs.        -   Arrangement.—Single.        -   Observed quantity per flower.—About 20.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Color.—Outer surface: RHS 143A. Inner surface: RHS 143B.        -   Length.—Between 0.7 cm and 1.2 cm.        -   Width.—Up to 0.4 cm.        -   Apex.—Narrowly acute.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Outer surface: Pubescent; covering of fine hairs.            Inner surface: Shiny.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Location: On the disc floret. Stamens: Quantity:            Numerous. Shape: Filamentous. Filament length: About 0.4 cm.            Filament diameter: Less than 0.05 cm. Anther: Shape:            Lanceolate. Color: RHS N92A. Length: About 0.2 cm. Diameter:            Less than 0.05 cm. Pollen: Color: RHS 14A. Amount: Moderate.        -   Gynoecium.—Location: On the base of the petals (ray floret),            reduced on disc florets. Pistils: Number: About 22 per            flower, one per petal. Length: About 0.5 cm. Diameter: Less            than 0.05 cm. Stigma: Color: RHS N92A. Shape: Split in two            parts at the end. Length: About 0.2 cm. Diameter: Less than            0.05 cm. Style: Color: RHS 76B. Length: About 0.3 cm.            Diameter: 0.05 cm.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEOE14235’ is a distinct variety of osteospermum and is distinguishedfrom its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male ParentCharacteristic ‘KLEOE14235’ ‘OE-2006-0062’ ‘OE-2001-U 088’ Ray floretLight violet with Pink-violet Pink with very color lighter violet ringbroad white ring basal and darker at base

‘KLEOE14235’ is most similar to the commercial osteospermum variety‘KLEOE05115’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,634). Differences between thevarieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEOE14235’‘KLEOE05115’ Plant height Short to medium; about Medium to tall; about30.0 cm tall 40.0 cm tall

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of osteospermum plant designated‘KLEOE14235’ as illustrated and described herein.